Hollywood
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire collects $307.7 million in the opening weekend
MUMBAI: The Jennifer Lawrence starrer The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has set a new record after topping the weekend movie charts, setting the US and Canadian record for November ticket sales and hauling in a huge $ 307.7 million around the world. Catching Fire collected an estimated $ 161.1 million from Thursday night through Sunday in the United States and Canada, a first for the month of November.
Playing in 65 markets around the world, the sequel to the hit The Hunger Games also grabbed $ 146.6 million in foreign sales through Sunday, reports distributor Lions Gate Entertainment.
Fans of the franchise poured in large numbers to watch Jennifer Lawrence portray the heroine Katniss Everdeen, of Suzanne Collins’ young adult series, the skilled archer who becomes a symbol of hope for the oppressed citizen of the fictional country of Panem.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins with Katniss returning home after winning the 74th Hunger Games along with Peeta. However, it’s not over for them as the devious Capitol prepares for the 75th Annual Hunger Games – The Quarter Quell. As the victors get ready to participate in the Capitol’s latest shenanigans, elsewhere in the districts a rebellion is brewing – the inhabitants are growing more agitated everyday with the absolute tyranny of the Capitol.
The first film of the series The Hunger Games earned $ 691.2 million worldwide in 2012.
After the critical success worldwide, the movie is all set to release in India on 6 December, 2013 in more than 600 screens nationwide in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
